Petroleum Engineering is not a narrowly focused engineering discipline. A petroleum engineer must have a good understanding of basic engineering, the natural sciences, and mathematics, in addition to petroleum engineering and an earth science background. Graduate studies offer you an excellent avenue to be involved in multi-disciplinary studies and to gain a better understanding of the complexities of petroleum reservoirs.

Applicants seeking financial support should indicate such on the admission application. Support may be in the form of teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs) or fellowships. Approxiamately 45% of Petroleum Engineering graduate students receive financial aid. Complete applications should be submitted by the deadline to insure priority consideration for fall semester financial support.

Due to high numbers of applications to the graduate program in Petroleum Engineering, applicants without the following core engineering, science and math courses are not eligible to apply:

Calculus I, II, III

Differential Equations

Chemistry I, II (with quantitative lab)

Physics I, II (Calculus based)

Fluid Mechanics

Thermodynamics

Mechanics of Materials

Statics

Degree Programs

Professional Masters in Petroleum Reservoir Systems

Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering

Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering

Research

Research in the Petroleum Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines has a worldwide reputation for immediate usefulness in managing drilling, field development, operations, well stimulation and other production and reservoir problems. Some current research projects include:

Multidisciplinary reservoir characterization

Advanced drilling

Finite element modeling

Reservoir simulation

IOR/EOR methods

Naturally fractured reservoirs

Carbonate reservoirs

Pressure transient analysis

Rock physics

Rock mechanics

Stimulation and completion methods

Hydraulic fracturing

Unconventional reservoirs

Horizontal and advance wells

Pore scale modeling and imaging

Economics and management

Tight gas sand production

Natural gas engineering

Western Regional Graduate Program

The Petroleum Engineering Department is a participant in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), which allows students who are residents of one of the 14 western states to enroll at Mines with resident tuition. Students applying to the Petroleum Department who are residents of participating WICHE states may enroll as WRGP students. These states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Applicants do not have to meet specific financial criteria, but they must meet all admissions requirements and deadlines set by Mines.